The Phillies are seven games under .500. From 2008 to 2013, there were 44 teams at least seven games under .500 at the end of play on June 2. Only five of those 44 teams finished above .500 . . . 39 of those 44 teams failed to finish with a winning record.

So you’re saying there’s a chance?

Hardly. Those five teams were exceptions.

Seidman goes on to explain how unusual those five teams were. Basically: all of them had extended winning streaks at some point. While one can’t predict those sorts of thing, nothing the Phillies have done suggests they have a bunch of dormant capabilities waiting to burst free.

This team was finished after the 1-0 loss to the Cards in game 5 of the 2011 NLDS. Back then they were simply stale. Today they are dead rotten.

Back in the 70’s, Dick Wagner was the hand-picked successor to Bob Howsam as GM of the Reds, who had just won the 75 and 76 Series. I watched in dismay as Wagner blew up the club and fielded such luminaries as Paul Householder and Kurt Stilwell.

Amaro was the hand-picked successor to Gillick after Phils won in 2008. And I was thinking this would be different, because Amaro seemed intent on holding the club together.

Howsam and Gillick had a strategy of turning over the roster in a controlled manner, acquiring prospects, developing talent, and keeping a clubhouse just tense enough to maintain their edge. Jocketty did the same with St. Louis and now Cincy. Sabean does a great job of continuous renewal with the Giants.

Perhaps they all got old together but wow Ruiz is one of the top catchers Many teams would love Howard and tules, Rollins are just what they are. They have not had a talent come up in the last few years it’s one thing to age but the minors are tapped I always liked the Phil’s but u can not count a team out until July or am I wrong?

You’re wrong. This team is toast.
And, out of curiosity, what teams would love Howard? He’s on track for 200 strike outs and 115 RBI which wouldn’t be bad if he were making $10 mil. But he’s making $25 mil. And he wouldn’t be a 1-year rental.

Losing 4 out of 5 to the Mets is about as bad as it gets. They don’t deserve to go to the playoffs. 3rd highest payroll in baseball. You sign 5 guys to 20 million dollar contracts and then the bottom of your roster is all garbage. It’s better to have 10 to 15 million dollar guys and guys at the bottom that make decent money. Even it out. Once those 25 million dolla’ dudes don’t perform your done. Ruin Tomoro cannot be GM next year. No butts in the seats will cost him his job. They need a complete overhaul not just players. Scouts and everything. We are awful top to bottom. GO BIRDS!!

You know, sometimes when baseball franchises falter, it’s just kind of a perfect storm, or it sneaks up on you, or it’s something you couldn’t see coming.

Not the Phils, man. This was the most obvious, slow burn implosion in recent baseball memory. You literally could not see a clearer progression.

2008: Win World Series
2009: Lose World Series
2010: Lose National League Championship
2011: Lose National League Division Championship
2012: Don’t make playoffs
2013: Don’t post winning record

I mean, that’s a straight diagonal line on a graph, man.

It’s like when you’re standing on the field of battle, and first you hear a distant rumble. Then you see a cloud of dust on the horizon as thousands of boots kick it up marching. Then you see the trees all sway and start crumbling. Then a giant army appears. The it crosses the field and holds as they blow the horns. Then the commander raises his sword, holds it, holds it, holds it, then lets out a tremendous battle cry. Then the orcs charge. And you jump out of your shoes and go “oh, snap, where did they come from?!”

Anyway, as far as this club, they still have the ability to build SOME kind of farm system if they start moving big league pieces and eating salary (which they are able to do, financially). There’s plenty of meat left on the carcass for teams to pick through. But why it STILL hasn’t dawned on Amaro that he can’t just trot out his 2008 team until the end of time is beyond me, and everyone.

I hope the Phils finally see the writing on the wall, and begin trading-off MLB assets, and build for the future. I love Cliff Lee, Cole Hamels, but they no longer have any business on remaining with the Phillies.